Geranium plant named ‘KLEPZ05137’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘KLEPZ05137’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double red to red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KLEPZ05137’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘KLEPZ05137’.

The new Zonal Geranium is a product of planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniform Zonal Geranium cultivars with early flowering habit and attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Stuttgart, Germany in 1993 of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number ZK 355, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number P 014, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar KLEPZ05137 was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany in 1994.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Stuttgart, Germany since 1994, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar KLEPZ05137 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KLEPZ05137’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KLEPZ05137’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Semi-double red to red purple-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium are less vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have blue purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Kleluck, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/250,006, now abandoned. In side-by-side comparison conducted in Stuttgart, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Kleluck in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were less compact than         plants of the cultivar Kleluck.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger flowers than         plants of the cultivar Kleluck.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the cultivar Kleluck         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Kleluck had         blue purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘KLEPZ05137’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Stuttgart, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and autumn and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 20,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Plants were about 2.5 months old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are make to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar KLEPZ05137. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number ZK 355, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number P 014, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eight days at             temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About nine days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 17 days             at temperatures of 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 19 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Upright to rounded plant habit; densely             foliated. Moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely basal             branching habit with about four to five lateral branches per             plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 20 cm to 24 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 19 cm to 22 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm to 8 cm. Internode             length: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Color: 137C. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;             rough.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface:             137A; venation, 137B. Developing and fully expanded foliage,             lower surface: 137B; venation, 137C. Zonation pattern:             Distinct. Location of zone: About 8 mm to 10 mm from leaf             margin. Width: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Color: 139A. Petiole:             Length: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped.             Flowers not persistent. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 35 to 45             flower buds and open flowers per umbel.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Stuttgart, Germany, flowering is continuous             from spring until frost in autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to ten             days on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 3             mm to 6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Color: 137C.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About six to seven. Length:             About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: 46B. Fully opened, upper             surface: 46C; venation, 46B; color becoming closer to 53B             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: 46C; towards             the base, 46D; venation, 46B.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about five. Length:             About 3 mm to 10 mm. Width: About 1 mm to 5 mm. Shape:             Irregularly shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: 46B.             Fully opened, upper surface: 46B; towards the base, 46C;             venation, 46B; color becoming closer to 53B with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: 46B; towards the             base, 52D; venation, 46B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 9 mm to 11 mm. Width: About 3 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Rough. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: 137C.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13 cm to 18 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect.             Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 137B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:             Erect to about 110° C. from vertical. Texture: Slightly             pubescent. Color: 185A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther shape: Ovate.             Anther color: 52B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             32A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 5 mm. Stigma shape: Tapering; reflexed. Stigma             color: 46C. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: 46C.             Ovary color: 138C.         -   Seed.—Seed development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     6° C. to about 34° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘KLEPZ05137’ as illustrated and described. 